Published at 6:48 AM PDT on Mar 11, 2013

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Apple chief Tim Cook could testify in an antitrust lawsuit over e-book pricing, according to reports.

Cook could be called on for testimony, according to a U.S. District Court judge, Bloomberg Businessweek reported. Cook's possible testimony was disclosed in a brief by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan. Apple declined to comment on the possible testimony of its chief executive.

The lawsuit was brought about by the U.S. Department of Justice against Apple over what it deemed to be a conspiracy with book publishers to raise prices of e-books. The department sued both Apple and a group of publishers last year for violation of U.S. antitrust law. So far, Apple is the only remaining defendant in the case. The publishers have settled with the government.

As we have written previously, Apple dismissed the accusations and called them "not true."

"The launch of the iBookstore in 2010 fostered innovation and competition, breaking Amazon’s monopolistic grip on the publishing industry," Apple said in a statement." Since then customers have benefited from e-books that are more interactive and engaging. Just as we’ve allowed developers to set prices on the App Store, publishers set prices on the iBookstore."

Apple's competent and busy legal team, as well as its dragon's hoard of cash, often means that Apple can legally fight as long as it wants. However, it's fighting the government -- the same entity that makes rules how technology can be used, so its usual strategy of making a company bleed money may not work here.